Category: Tech News

One of the first real streaming devices of the current era was the Google Chromecast, which adopted a novel approach to let you wirelessly access Internet-based content on an ordinary, non-smart television. The device didn’t have a user interface or remote of its own, but when used with a compatible smartphone or tablet, it allowed you to stream content easily, thanks to Google’s ‘casting’ protocol. Streaming devices have, since then, become much more capable, with independent functionality and dedicated remotes in most cases.

That’s where the new Chromecast with Google TV comes in. Launched globally in 2020, this standalone streaming device with the new and improved Google TV user interface has come to India only recently, and is priced at Rs. 6,399. With a convenient form factor, a dedicated remote, and Ultra-HD HDR streaming capabilities, is this the best streaming device you can buy right now? Find out in this review.

The Chromecast with Google TV, as its name suggests, runs the newer and more content-centric Google TV user interface

Chromecast with Google TV design and specifications

Unlike much larger devices such as the Mi Box 4K or Amazon Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) which need to be placed on a table top, the Chromecast with Google TV is considerably smaller and lighter, and can safely hang from your TV when connected to an HDMI port.

Although this device is available globally in different colour options, you can only buy it in the ‘Snow’ colour in India. The streaming device is available on Flipkart for now, but Google has confirmed that it will also be sold at offline retail stores in the coming weeks.

The Chromecast with Google TV is oval-shaped and flat, with a fixed rubber cable leading to an HDMI plug on one end, and a USB Type-C port for power on the other end. Included in the sales package is a USB Type-A to Type-C cable and wall socket adapter, which is the recommended way to power the Chromecast. Certain TVs might be able to supply power through a USB port with just the cable, but this is typically a less reliable way to do it.

The device supports streaming at up to Ultra-HD (3840×2160 pixels) at 60fps, with support for high dynamic range content in the Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR10 formats. There is also Dolby Atmos support when used with compatible televisions or speaker systems. Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are supported for external connectivity.

Chromecast with Google TV remote and features

What truly stands out about the Chromecast with Google TV is its remote. This is a small, conveniently-shaped unit powered by two AAA batteries (included in the sales package). It has just a few buttons, including a direction pad, back, and home keys for navigation, hotkeys for YouTube and Netflix, a button to invoke Google Assistant, and volume buttons on the right.

The curved shape of the remote makes it easy to hold, and the side-mounted volume keys are convenient to reach without needing to adjust your grip. There is an IR emitter to control connected devices such as TVs and soundbars, and Bluetooth to control the Chromecast itself and transmit voice commands to Google Assistant.

The remote of the Chromecast with Google TV has hotkeys for Netflix and YouTube

HDMI-CEC support on the device meant that I was able to control basic functionality such as power and volume adjustments on the television as well as the soundbar that I had connected, using just the Chromecast’s remote. This didn’t need any additional setup, and worked flawlessly during my review. Apart from Google Assistant, the Chromecast also features the classic casting capabilities of its predecessor devices.

Chromecast with Google TV software and performance

The Chromecast with Google TV runs on Android TV 10, with the Google TV user interface on top. This new and improved user interface was introduced in 2020 with the Chromecast, but has since also been made available to other Android TV devices, including Sony televisions and the Realme 4K Smart Google TV Stick. The biggest advantage of Android TV compared to other smart TV and streaming device platforms is the number of available apps; the Google Play store has over 5,000 apps, purpose-built for television screens.

The Google TV user interface is different from the original stock Android TV UI in that it puts a greater focus on content recommendations, and also replaces the erstwhile Google Play Movies and TV app with purchases and rentals directly in the UI. Apps and games are the same on Google TV as on the older UI, since these rely on the base Android TV software.

Content curation and recommendations on Google TV are interesting, with large banners featuring movies and TV shows that the algorithm thinks you will like. These are sorted into various rows based on genres, themes, and content such as titles similar to what you’ve already watched. Some of these rows are quite unique and creative; I had recommendations for ‘Shows set in Los Angeles’, ‘Movies nominated for Best Film Editing Oscar’, and ‘Monsoon Hits’, among others.

The Chromecast with Google TV supports Ultra-HD and HDR streaming

Of the services I’m subscribed to, Google TV was able to integrate with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Apple TV+, and Disney+ Hotstar to suggest content. This made for a great mix of recommendations, and usefully, the interface showed Rotten Tomatoes ratings for almost all recommendations. Rather sensibly, the UI prioritises the easiest and most affordable way to watch each title. It directed me to services I’m subscribed to already wherever possible, to watch specific movies or shows for free.

Actual performance on the Chromecast with Google TV was largely problem-free for me. Connectivity was stable with a 5GHz home Wi-Fi connection, and all apps and content loaded quickly and without any issues. Streaming was similarly hassle-free, with my capable Internet connection ensuring that content would immediately stream in Ultra-HD and HDR when available, or bump to the higher resolution and format within seconds.

Ordinarily, the Chromecast with Google TV streams in the best available resolution and dynamic range, reliably setting up the picture for the native settings of specific content. However, the device has an interesting toggle in the settings menu to force Ultra-HD and Dolby Vision for all content. This made the user interface look a fair bit better and sharper, and seemed to improve the colours even in Full-HD standard dynamic range content by forcing my Dolby Vision compatible television to use those specific picture settings.

Verdict

Streaming devices usually exist to satisfy very specific requirements for the user; you either don’t have smart connectivity on your existing television and aren’t ready to replace it yet, or you don’t like how your TV’s integrated smart connectivity works. The Chromecast with Google TV works reasonably well in either case, and you should not have any trouble with its excellent software and user experience. The fact that it needed minimal setup and tweaking, and pretty much just worked well from the get-go, made me like the Chromecast even more.

It’s a bit expensive, but it does exactly what it’s supposed to and can work with most mainstream audio and video formats right now. It might be worth considering the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max if you’re more in tune with Alexa, but the Chromecast with Google TV is geared for Google Assistant, and works just as well for its core functionality.

Price: Rs. 6,399

Pros:

• Convenient shape and size
• Excellent remote
• Ultra-HD, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos support
• Very easy to set up and use

Cons:

Ratings (Out of 10):

Design and specifications: 9
Features: 8
Value for money: 6
Overall: 8

Apple is expected to hold a media event in January 2023 to unveil its all-new mixed reality headset. Market expectations are reportedly high for it among other Apple devices arriving next year. However, investors are supposedly concerned about the speculated low shipment of about 1.5 million units in 2023. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the Cupertino company’s first-generation headset is expected to prove demand for this device in the market. Furthermore, the first generation will reportedly be significantly more expensive than other virtuality reality (VR) headsets currently available.

Kuo tweeted that Apple hopes to “reduce investor’s concerns about innovative user experience and low shipments in 2023” during the media event supposedly set for January 2023. The three key aspects of this event are understood to be user experience, software ecosystem, and hardware specifications. It is expected to assure investors of a rapid growth period for the headset in the next few years.

The first-generation Apple mixed reality headset could be priced around $2,000 (roughly Rs. 1,60,000) to $2,500 (roughly Rs. 2,00,000) or even higher. The Cupertino company supposedly hopes to prove demand for mixed reality headsets with its first generation unit. The market price is expected to drop if demand for this device is established. Furthermore, the shipments are also expected to increase.

In related news, a report by The Elec mentions that LG is developing OLED on silicon (OLEDoS) displays. These displays could be used in Apple’s mixed reality headset that is expected to arrive next year. LG’s OLEDoS will supposedly be used for the outer screen whereas the inner display could be a Sony OLEDoS. LG Display has supposedly also started developing LEDoS technology for Apple.

Apple has remained tight-lipped regarding its mixed reality headset. A past report claimed that these handsets could run on a new operating system named RealityOS. Kuo believed this mixed reality headset to be a game changer. It could boost the demand for immersive gaming/ multimedia experiences.

Zazie Beetz is reportedly in talks to reprise her role in Joker 2. According to a new Deadline report, the actress is set to return as Sophie Dumond in the Todd Phillips-directed sequel. Titled ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ the Joaquin Phoenix-led film will release on October 4, 2024, with Phillips writing the script alongside Scott Silver. The theatrical release for Joker 2 is set on the same day as the prequel’s debut, marking the fifth-year anniversary of DC Comics’ Oscar-nominated entry.

Joker: Folie à Deux is set to start filming in December, and ropes Beetz (Deadpool 2) back in as Arthur Fleck’s (Phoenix) “love interest”. In 2019’s Joker, the two get involved in a romantic relationship, but it is soon revealed that those precious moments were all part of Fleck’s delusion. The ending was left ambiguous as well, as we saw him breaking and entering Beetz’s apartment with no resolution. This caused fans to debate for months as to whether she was killed or left unharmed, as Fleck left the apartment saddened by the extent of his imagination.

As to whether this points to Beetz’s character being alive or appearing as yet another fantasy remains to be seen. Beetz recently starred in David Leitch’s Bullet Train, alongside Brad Pitt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Bullet Train has grossed $62.5 million (about Rs. 497 crore), since its release on August 4.

Bullet Train Movie Review: Brad Pitt Action Vehicle Never Really Gets You on Board

Last week, the Warner Bros. film added Lady Gaga (House of Gucci) to its cast lineup. The musician-actress confirmed her involvement in the sequel through a social media post, featuring an animated infographic of her dancing with Fleck. The surrounding buzz hints at Gaga playing the role of Joker’s on-and-off girlfriend Harley Quinn. The claim is strengthened by the fact that the end of 2019’s Joker saw Fleck institutionalised in a mental asylum, which is where he could have met Dr. Harleen Quinzel.

While plot details are being kept in the dark, Joker 2 has also been reported to be a musical drama. Could we expect some song and dance sequences between the two leads, akin to Damien Chazelle’s Oscar-nominated La La Land? This would explain the reason behind Gaga’s hiring — who already has experience in said field — marking her first collaboration with Phoenix.

Upon release, Joker became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, collecting $1.07 billion (about Rs. 8,345 crore) worldwide. The movie was nominated for Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards, with Phoenix and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir winning awards in the Best Actor and Best Original Score categories, respectively.

Joker 2 — or Joker: Folie à Deux — is slated to release on October 4, 2024 in cinemas worldwide.

Motorola Razr 2022 was earlier scheduled to launch on August 2, alongside the Moto X30 Pro. However, hours before the launch, the event was cancelled. In a latest update, the Lenovo-owned company confirmed that it will announce the Moto Razr 2022 alongside the Moto X30 Pro and Moto S30 Pro phones on August 11 in China. A dedicated microsite on the brand’s online store is teasing the specifications of the Motorola Razr 2022 ahead of launch. It is confirmed to offer a 144Hz refresh rate display.

Chen Jin, General Manager of Lenovo Mobile Business Group confirmed the launch date of Motorola Razr 2022, Moto X30 Pro, and Moto S30 Pro on Weibo. Lenovo has a timer going on a dedicated landing page on its online store for the launch of the phones and it will take place on August 11 at 8pm (local time) in China (5:30pm IST).

The Motorola Razr 2022 is teased to feature a 6.7-inch OLED inner display with 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and DC dimming. The foldable phone will have a 2.7-inch display on the outside as well. As confirmed earlier, the smartphone will be powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. The phone will be available in an 8GB RAM and 256GB storage configuration.

For optics, the Motorola Razr 2022 is teased to feature a dual rear camera unit led by a 50-megapixel primary sensor with support for optical image stabilisation (OIS). The rear camera unit will also include a 13-megapixel wide-angle sensor. For selfies, it will have a 32-megapixel sensor at the front. Further, the phone will have speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

The Moto X30 Pro and Moto S30 Pro phones will also be announced alongside the foldable phone on August 11 in China. The Moto X30 Pro is already confirmed to feature a 200-megapixel primary camera as well as support 125W GaN fast charging. The Moto S30 Pro could be powered by Snapdragon 888+ SoC and is expected to pack a 4,270mAh battery with support for 68W fast charging.

An Iranian satellite launched by Russia blasted off from Kazakhstan early Tuesday and went into orbit amid controversy that Moscow might use it to improve its surveillance of military targets in Ukraine.

A live feed from Russian space agency Roscosmos showed the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying the Khayyam satellite from the Russia-controlled Baikonur cosmodrome at the scheduled time of 05:52 GMT (11:22am).

The Russian mission control confirmed its subsequent entry into orbit.

Iran, which has maintained ties with Moscow and refrained from criticism of the Ukraine invasion, has sought to deflect suspicions that Moscow could use Khayyam to spy on Ukraine.

Last week, US daily The Washington Post quoted anonymous Western intelligence officials as saying that Russia “plans to use the satellite for several months or longer” to assist its war efforts before allowing Iran to take control.

But the Iranian Space Agency said on Sunday that the Islamic republic would control the Khayyam satellite “from day one”.

“No third country is able to access the information” sent by the satellite due to its “encrypted algorithm,” it said.

The purpose of Khayyam is to “monitor the country’s borders”, enhance agricultural productivity and monitor water resources and natural disasters, the space agency said.

In a pre-launch statement on Monday ISA praised “the high reliability factor of the Soyuz launcher”.

“Due to Khayyam satellite’s weight of more than half a ton and the very high success rate of the Soyuz launcher, the launch of the Khayyam satellite has been entrusted to Russia,” the statement on the space agency’s website noted.

As Moscow’s international isolation grows under the weight of Western sanctions over Ukraine, the Kremlin is seeking to pivot Russia towards the Middle East, Asia and Africa and find new clients for the country’s embattled space programme.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran last month – one of his few trips abroad since the invasion began.

‘Long-term cooperation’

Khayyam, apparently named after the 11th-century Persian polymath Omar Khayyam, will not be the first Iranian satellite that Russia has put into space- in 2005, Iran’s Sina-1 satellite was deployed from Russia’s Plesetsk cosmodrome.

Iran is currently negotiating with world powers, including Moscow, to salvage a 2015 deal aimed at reining in Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

The United States – which quit the landmark Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA under then-president Donald Trump in 2018 – has accused Iran of effectively supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine while adopting a “veil of neutrality”.

During his meeting with Putin last month, Iran’s Khamenei called for “long-term cooperation” with Russia, and Tehran has refused to join international condemnation of Moscow’s invasion of its pro-Western neighbour.

Iran insists its space programme is for civilian and defence purposes only, and does not breach the 2015 nuclear deal, or any other international agreement.

Western governments worry that satellite launch systems incorporate technologies interchangeable with those used in ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, something Iran has always denied wanting to build.

Iran successfully put its first military satellite into orbit in April 2020, drawing a sharp rebuke from the United States.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones with active noise cancellation and advanced Bluetooth codec support have been launched globally, priced at $350 (approximately Rs. 27,800). The flagship headset is the successor to the Sennheiser Momentum 3 Wireless headset launched in late 2019, and goes up against competition from brands such as Sony and Bose in the premium wireless over-ear headphones segment. The Momentum 4 Wireless headphones have a refreshed design, which puts the focus on comfort, and the company also claims class-leading battery life of up to 60 hours per charge.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless price and availability

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones are priced at $350 (approximately Rs. 27,800), and are available now for pre-order in select global markets. The headphones will go on sale on August 23 for standard purchases. There is no word on availability and pricing in India as of now, but it’s likely that Sennheiser will launched the headphones in India in the coming weeks.

At this price and with these set of features, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless goes up against competition in the premium wireless over-ear headphones segment, particularly the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QC45, both of which are priced at roughly the same level.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless specifications and features

As the company’s flagship over-ear wireless headphones, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless promises premium-grade performance and functionality. This includes active noise cancellation, app support through the Sennheiser Smart Control app, and advanced Bluetooth codec support for the aptX and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codecs, in addition to SBC and AAC. The headphones use Bluetooth 5.2 for connectivity, and have a refreshed design that is claimed by Sennheiser to offer better comfort.

In addition, Sennheiser claims class-leading battery life of up to 60 hours per charge on the Momentum 4 Wireless headphones. The headphones have 42mm dynamic drivers, four microphones for voice and ANC functionality, fast charging through USB Type-C, and a frequency response range of 6-22,000Hz.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on Twitter, Facebook, and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

BTC Grows, ETH Dips as Crypto Price Chart Reflects Mix of Greens and Reds

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Release Date Set for December 2024